Catamaran Maintenance

More Editorial by J.
Summer WestmanNovember
2006 IssueKeeping crud off the bottom of a boat has been a problem for mariners Ö well,
probably since before recorded history. From oil to tar; from tin and copper
sheeting to tin- and copper-based paints; and even from chili powder to
indelible markers Ö Boaters have tried everything to keep their boat bot toms
smooth and clean. Environmental concerns, however, are forcing mariners to find
new ways to protect their boats without poisoning their playground or workplace.
If you are a new owner...

In a word Ö Yes. While the racer, the cruiser, and the one-weekend-a-month
fisherman may all own fiberglass boats, their anti-fouling needs are very
different.
Different paints are designed for different types of water and weather
conditions. You and your best friend may own identical 40í sailboats, but if you
keep your boat in the Caribbean and your friendís boat is on a lake in the
northeastern United States, each boat will need different anti-fouling paint.Hard anti-fouling paints which work on contact with water are ideal for
go-fast boa...

So what is the best anti-fouling paint for your boat? How do you
choose from all those paints that are on the market? We have already
seen that type of water, boat usage, and water temperature will have an
effect on the type of anti-fouling paint that you will need. Letís take
a look at some other issues Ö
One of your biggest concerns will be your budget. Aside from the
cost of getting the work done, or buying the tools to do it yourself
(as well as paying for yard time), you must look at the price of
anti-fouling paint. Pettit Paintís Trinidad S...

One of the big deals is that the dust from sanding anti-fouling
paint is toxic Ė you donít want it in your lungs or in your eyes.
Experts recommend wet sanding old anti-fouling paint, capturing the
residue, and then disposing of it as hazardous waste. Some boatyards,
such as Independence in St. Thomas, have installed dustless sanders;
they are loud, but they capture the poisoned dust.
You can use chemical paint removers to do the job, but they, too,
are hazardous to your health; proper care must be taken during use and
clean up. Sand-blasting is...

Now that the bottom of your boat is prepped and ready to go, you
have to make a decision. Will you apply the paint yourself or will you
pay a boatyard to do it?
Most boatyards allow owners (and regular crew) to work on their
boats. You will pay a lay-day fee, which can range from $0.50 per foot
per day, to $5.00 per foot per day, not including water and
electricity. Some boatyards will allow you to bring in outside
contractors, which will cost more; some will require you to use
contractors from their approved list. Yacht clubs, though not all,...

So far, we have been looking at ways to protect the bottom of your
boat by using various types of anti-fouling paints. However, if your
bottom paint fails, it cannot do its job. In this article, we will
examine ways to care for your bottom paint, as well as methods of
taking care of your boat-bottom without using paint.
Maintaining Bottom Paint
Bottom paint can fail for many reasons. Among them are:
1. Improper prep and/or application. If the surface of the boat is
not properly prepared, anti-fouling paint can peel right off. A
too-thin appli...

Rejuvenate, refresh, clean and maintain your boat with pure essential oils effectively and naturally. Essential oils are aromatic liquid substances extracted from certain species of flowers, grasses, fruits, leaves, roots and trees Why consider essential oils for cleaning? Properties of these oils are not only valuable for cleaning purposes, but also operate effectively on physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and aesthetic areas of our lives. Providing both protection and pleasure without the polluting effects of chemicals, they...

Each of us, at one time or another has heard someone say "it's only cosmetic." Surely, safety comes first, but given the fact that by definition a yacht is something used purely for pleasure, shouldn't cosmetics be regarded as an important aspect of vessel maintenance? When it comes to cosmetics, a vessel's woodwork can have a huge impact.Most yacht woodwork tends to be teak, though mahogany and other woods are sometimes used. Teak quality can vary enormously, but in medium to high grades it is a fabulous material capable of outlasting most other pa...

My wife, Sharon, and I purchased Possessor, our 51-foot Morgan Out Island, six years ago, and we still consider it the deal of the century. Richard, the previous owner, tookDifferent Drummer, our 33-foot Morgan Out Island, in trade along with some extra cash and our almost-new dinghy and outboard. Possessor, however, had been on the hard in the Bahamas for more than three years, and the only evidence of a dinghy was the sturdy set of davits on her transom.A few days before my crew, Jim and Dave, and I were set to leave from Marsh Harbour with Possessor,...

Now that youíve got a new top-coat paint job, whatís the best way to make that shine last? You have undertaken the complex but rewarding process of having your topside repainted, but what are the secrets to keeping that beautiful finish looking showroom perfect? After all the effort you put into choosing the right paint system, application process and the extensive prep work, why not enjoy that gleaming new shine for as long as possible? Next up in our series on top-coat paint projects, here are some great ideas and easy tips to help get the most ou...

As with anything worth doing, preparation is the key to a job well done. Take a close look at your topcoat paint for a minute. With all the salt, sun, scrubbing and swabbing, it's hard to believe it's held up as long as it has. And when the finish starts to go, it's easy to overlook because the process is so gradual. But if you really stop and inspect the surface, does it appear chalky or porous? Do you have an uneven sheen or areas that are discolored? If so, it might be time to start thinking about new topside paint. Like anything else on your yac...

Boat blisters are a delicate subject especially when discussing how to repair them. Unless you have a lot of time to dry out the boat and the money to cover the costs of peeling the hull, it seems repairing blisters is a black art. Some claim that if you only have a few blisters it's best to leave them altogether, particularly from a resale point of view, as an un-tampered hull will be more attractive to a buyer then one with numerous repairs. If you are going to repair them then you need to consider how many blisters you have and whether it will affec...

There comes a time when either routine maintenance or repairs are required on your yacht.Scheduled work typically takes place once per year, notes Tim Miller, who with partner Julie Brown operates the 58ft Hatteras charter yacht, McGregor II, out of the St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands'-based Virgin Islands Charteryacht League's (VICL) fleet. "In the crewed yacht business in the Caribbean, most boats perform their yard work during hurricane season. For personal boats, not in charter, it depends on many factors. Then again, boats may have yard work more th...